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Wolverhampton mum raises fund for charity which treated poorly daughter to Paddington adventure

A Wolverhampton headteacher has raised more than £1,000 for a charity which helped her young daughter beat cancer.

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Rosie Byrne, aged 8

Jenny Byrne, 40, who teaches in Wolverhampton, raised £1,080 for Molly Olly’s Wishes.

The charity granted her daughter Rosie, now eight, her wish to visit Paddington Bear places in London.

It came after brave Rosie was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia five years ago.

Rosie Byrne, aged 3

She is now in complete remission having been given the all clear two-and-a-half years ago.

Ms Byrne is the headteacher at St Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, in Whitmore Reans, where Rosie also attends.

She raised the cash for Molly Olly's Wishes after taking part in the Florette Fradley 10km run near Lichfield in March.

She said: "We had been reading to her throughout her time in intensive care and during recovery.

"We didn’t know if she could hear us but we read Paddington Bear stories which was a book we found in the hospital ward.

Rosie Byrne, aged 5

"For her wish she asked to go to London and see everywhere that Paddington Bear had been in those stories.

"Molly Olly’s arranged for us to spend the weekend in London visiting various Paddington-related places such as Portobello Market and the train station and even ate marmalade sandwiches.

"They also added lovely extra details as well and gave her a Paddington Bear suitcase with some bits and pieces in it and was given a special camera to take her own pictures and document the day.

"It made her feel so special but it made a difference to all of us."

Jenny Byrne, centre, and friends running in the event near Lichfield

Ms Byrne has also raised money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital where Rosie was being treated.

Amazingly, the mother-of-four was told Rosie had been given the all clear on the day she ran the 2017 Birmingham 10k.

Jenny added: "The timing of it was unbelievable. A short while later she was invited back to ring the end of treatment bell."

To donate to Molly Olly's Wishes, visit www.mollyolly.co.uk

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